01 | Audio

[sunasuna]

[This is far from ideal. Being brought somewhere against his will, taken away from everyone and everything he knew, being branded... but no, the most infuriating part of it all is the lack of control he has over any of this. And how is he to gain it back?

He can't plan for anything yet. Not while he's still so new, not while he doesn't know this place, or what to do. This isn't his own world. There are no battles between pirates and Marines, no legendary treasures or people who would pursue them. There are no Blues, no Grand Line, and there is no New World for him to return to. This place is a complete unknown, and all there is for him here is uncertainty.

He never liked feeling uncertain.

But if he knows anything about how government works in any world, it's that the people involved are never completely truthful - if they're ever truthful at all. Besides, he isn't foolish enough to rely on the bare minimum of information given upon arrival. It tells him nothing of what this place is really like. Wiser to approach any others who are in the same predicament as him.

Learn more. Gauge the situation. Figure out if this place is even worth planning for.

And so, he turns on the audio function for his communicator - still finds it odd that it isn't a snail - to address whoever else is stuck here with him. The ID simply reads, "Crocodile."]

imPorts, is it? Interesting. [No, it isn't.] There's a similar group where I'm from, though it's much more exclusive. They're hailed as heroes by some, but thought of as nothing more than government dogs by others. [He pauses, taking a puff from his cigar. He’ll have to find a good tobacconist at some point. Starting to run low on the ones that came with him.] I'm curious. Which is it here? Are the imPorts who choose to register heroes, or well-trained pets for our hosts?

[He doesn't actually care. But something like this will hopefully provoke a reaction - positive or negative, it hardly matters to him - which will likely give him a better understanding of the type of people he'll be dealing with, rather than asking what this place is like and getting more cut-and-dried explanations of his new surroundings, and the population.]

Comments

Voice;

[stellen]

I'd say a little of column A, and a little of column B.

Voice; sorry for taking so long!

[sunasuna]

Hm. That seems reasonable. I'm sure there's a fair amount of people who would agree with you.

No probs!

[stellen]

You could say the same thing about the police. Some are heroes, some are lapdogs and some are both.

At the end of the day it probably depends on the person and the cause.

[sunasuna]

The person and the cause are important, but so is how they choose to approach whatever it is they do.

[stellen]

That's true.

voice

[captainpissoff]

Any man can play hero if the price is right, mate. It don't mean he's well-trained.

voice

[sunasuna]

True. If there's something to be gained , it's easy to see why someone would feel like playing along.

audio;

[grimreaping]

Perhaps it'd be wiser to think of being a hero as a judgment of action, not a state of existence.

voice

[sunasuna]

Sensible enough, but not always the best way to judge. A man can do something heroic one day, and something unspeakable the next. [That's certainly how he does things, at least.]

Re: voice

[grimreaping]

That's true, but in equal opposition to that, someone can be considered a hero without ever doing anything befitting the label. That's why I think considering it a static... achievement, for lack of better term... is a flawed perception.

voice

[sunasuna]

[Hm. This one seems to have a decent head on his shoulders.]

It is. [Flawed, he means.] But people are fond of applying those labels – to themselves and others – regardless of whether or not it’s deserved or even necessary. [As it is, he doesn't really care one way or the other. Crocodile is more concerned with figuring out a way to make this work to his advantage, registered or unsettled. But it's interesting enough to hear other people's thoughts on the matter.]

Re: voice

[grimreaping]

Labeling something -- putting limits on it, predicting a move, anticipating an outcome -- is how humans evolve. That doesn't always mean they are right, but it's still a necessary skill.

[sunasuna]

Labels can be used for all of those things, but I wouldn't say it's always necessary. [Exhales.] At any rate, it doesn't changes things. The people who brought us here have already seen fit to mark us, regardless of whether or not being a 'hero' really applies to anyone here.

Voice;

[restingstitchface]

Even well-trained pets can be trained to bite things.

Like their masters.

[Gee, Mr. Tick Tock. You speak as though you've got personal experience.]

Voice;

[sunasuna]

I suppose so. Some pets will bite and snap after years of loyalty. [Loyalty that was never there to begin with. He doesn't sound bitter, though, or even disappointed. Says it like it's just a simple statement of fact.]

Voice;

[restingstitchface]

[Crane speaks quickly, his voice a variable pitch.]

Well. We're all in the same boat here.

Honor amongst thieves, as they say. So long as we don't begin biting each other.

Voice;

[sunasuna]

[A soft chuckle. Honour. That's funny, Jonathan.]

Implying that the biting hasn't started already? Surprising.

Voice;

[restingstitchface]

Surprising?

Well. I suppose everyone's out for themselves; or something, or someone.

[Crane's hopes are more simple; along the lines of self-preservation, to be precise.]

Voice;

[sunasuna]

[More practical, too. Self-preservation is at least better than wasting one's time chasing after dreams and glory.]

Everyone has their own priorities. [Keeping themselves safe, keeping someone else safe, finding something.] It just depends on what they're willing to do to meet them.

[debauchewy]

['Crocodile'. That's a name all right.]

You're best asking yourself that question- how does it appear? [Chuckles lightly.] Who doesn't like a well-trained pet?

[sunasuna]

I can't say for sure just yet - I only arrived recently.

Though pets certainly have their uses when they're trained properly. [His were... well. Most of them were.] Personally, I'd rather be the one pulling the leash. But I suppose that can be done from either side.

[debauchewy]

You only need an introduction to this place to understand it well. [It's pretty simple.]

Ah- would you? [A slim smile, though he's on audio as well.] There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you have the strength not to let go. And you hold on tight enough, Crocodile?

[sunasuna]

I'd prefer to take the time to make a proper judgement. Cut-and-dried explanations like the one given rarely provide an accurate picture.

[The question earns a short chuckle.] I hold on as tightly as I need to.

[debauchewy]

[Aww, he likes you so far, you play along.]

Details do make for better preparation, don't they? I myself enjoy details, even more so when I can experience them myself, just being told isn't good enough. [And incredibly boring.]

That has yet to be seen. But I'm willing to wait and watch. You'd certainly have to find a few pets first though.

....Are you a dog or a cat person?

[sunasuna]

[He'll play along up until it starts feeling tedious, at any rate.]

Details are good. [He breathes out more smoke, not that it can be seen.] They provide a clearer understanding, and they're usually better when you can experience and sort them out yourself.

And frankly, I'm not interested in either one. [Cats and dogs are pretty much worthless. Mr. 4's was only useful because it was also a damn gun.

His favourite pets tend to be on the larger, man-eating side of things.]